Stevenson Under the Palm Trees

by Alberto Manguel

Stevenson, the teller of tales, is at the centre of this story of the South Seas. Who is the mysterious stranger? Where is the girl? This is not a whodunnit - it's a whathappenit? See if you can work it out.

Extract

The drums beat out a persistent rhythm that grew subtly, steadily, and a row of men, dabs of paint on their cheeks, began dancing in a straight line, while the women sang in counterpoint an encouraging chorus.